cognitive-enhancement

Chapter 2 of 'Superintelligence' explores various conceptual and practical pathways to achieving superintelligence, including definitions, philosophical considerations, and technical approaches such as whole brain emulation and evolutionary algorithms. It discusses the computational and biological challenges involved, the potential for artificial environments to foster intelligence, and the role of genetic and cognitive enhancements. The chapter also addresses ethical, philosophical, and technical debates surrounding the development of superintelligent systems.

This chapter explores the rising use of cognitive enhancers such as ADHD drugs, dietary supplements, brain-training games, and emerging neurotechnology to improve brain performance, especially among healthy individuals seeking competitive advantages. It discusses the ethical and legal implications of such enhancements, contrasting them with clear-cut cheating exemplified by the Operation Varsity Blues scandal. The chapter also highlights institutional responses, including academic policies that classify unauthorized use of cognitive enhancers as cheating.

Janis Taine, a researcher experimenting with novel cognitive-enhancing drug combinations, is confronted by two mysterious men in black suits who warn her to cease her investigation into a proscribed area of research controlled by secretive authorities known as Stasis. Fearful for her safety and the secrecy of her findings, she seeks help from an underground defense collective and attempts to contact an ally, Moh Kohn, whose unsettling appearance reflects the pervasive influence of the substances Janis is working with. The chapter explores the tension between scientific inquiry and authoritarian control in a post-war society.

Bobbi Anderson and Gardener grapple with the discovery of an alien spaceship on Bobbi's land, debating the risks of revealing it to authorities amid fears of government seizure and loss of control. Bobbi's physical and mental health deteriorate due to the ship's influence, while she becomes increasingly determined to operate the alien technology despite the dangers. The chapter also explores the broader implications of their discoveries, including the suppression of revolutionary technologies and the psychological toll of secrecy and paranoia.

The chapter chronicles the complex political and personal turmoil following a war and the U.S. President's sweeping 'Normalcy' reforms, highlighting the transition from revolutionary activism to governance amid social instability and biowarfare attacks. Central characters Oscar and Greta navigate fractured loyalties, cognitive enhancements, and violent power struggles, while grappling with the challenges of legitimacy, surveillance, and the commercialization of scientific progress. The narrative culminates in intimate reflections during Mardi Gras, symbolizing the tension between public spectacle and private emotion within a fragmented society.